Multiple spinning top device



Jan.19,1937. G AN v 2,068,053.

MULTIPLE SPINNING TOP DEVICE Fil9d July 29, 1936 Ernest 6'. fiehlnan/Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to spinning tops.

An important object of the invention is to provide a multiple spinningtop device which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, oflittle bulk and weight for shipping, can be sold in retail storescheaply or at little more than the price of one good top of the usualkind, is extremely durable, and attractive in operation to children andadults.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character, so constructed that thetops spin at high speed fora considerable time, and by encountering different hazards they affordinteresting contests and readily suggest various games, both for theindividual operator and for a party of players.

A further object of the invention isto provide a spinning device whichis adjustable to receive and hold a top or tops thereon and to releasethe same when properly rotated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple spinning topdevice so constructed that the top or tops may be set into rotation atan elevation above the spinning surface andthen dropped upon suchsurface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which will cause the tops to drop at spacedintervals upon the spinning surface so that they will be free toproperly spin.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character requiring no particular skill in operating the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple spinning top deviceembodying my invention, showing the cord being wound in place,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts in section, showing thetops supported above the spinning surface, and the cord being pulled.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 3a. is a transverse section taken on line 3a-3ct of Figure .2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the tops, and,

Figure 5 is a side elevation, parts in section, of a spinning deviceembodying a modification of the invention,

Attention being called first to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral I0 designates a spinning device, as a whole, including a handle ll.Rigidly secured to the forward end of the handle H. is a pivot elementl2, which may be in the form of a nail. This pivot element projectslongitudinally beyond the forward end of the handle and preferably hasits central longitudinal axis in alignment with the central longitudinalaxis of the handle.

Rotatably mounted upon the pivot element I2 is a' carrier l3, preferablyin the form of a fork, including spaced oppositely arranged tines l4,

having their rear ends connected by a transverse portion l5. Thistransverse portion is apertured to rotatably receive the pivot element[2. A connecting element or disk I6 is provided, which is preferablycircular, having a central opening ll, rotatably receiving the pivotelement l2. This connecting element or disk is provided with oppositelyarranged spaced elongated slots l8, to receive the tines I4. The tinesare preferably made of a relatively wide flat metal strip, which isresilient. The slots iii are wider than the thickness of the tines, andthe tines are tensioned to move outwardly to engage the outer walls ofthe slot, but when pressure is applied to the outer sides of the tines,they move inwardly, to engage with the tops, in a manner to bedescribed, and the width of the slots l8 permits of this proper inwardmovement of the tines. The connecting element or disk It is arrangedbehind the head IQ of the pivot element I2 and a spacing sleeve iscarried by the pivot element I2 and arranged between the connectingelement or disk l6 and the transverse portion l5, to prevent unduelongitudinal movement of the carrier upon the pivot element l2.

The spinning device is employed to spin a plurality of tops 2|, whichare identical in construction. Each top comprises a circular bodyportion 22, having a central circular opening 23, formed in a hub 23',and a depending V-shaped hollow spinning element 24. This spinningelement is preferably generally flat. The arms 24 of this spinningelement are secured to the hub 23', at diametrically opposite points,thereby dividing the central opening 23 into segmental passages 26. Thearms 24' of the hollow spinning element 24 are longitudinally tapered ina downward direction and hence increase in thickness upwardly. Theconstruction of the tops is such that they may be arranged in stackedrelation, the V- shaped hollow spinning'element 24 of one top passinginto the V-shaped hollow spinning element of the next top.

In the use of the multiple top device, the handle l I may be held in theleft hand in a general ly horizontal position, Figure l, and the tops 22applied tov the tines i4. These tines extend through the passages 26,and the hollow V-shaped elements are arranged between the tines. Thehollow V-shaped elements interfit,-as more clearly shown in Figure 2. Itis obvious that the rotation of the carrier l3 will cause the hollowspinning element 24 to engage with the tines and rotate the tops withthe tines. When the tops are thus applied to the tines of the rotarycarrier, a

r flexible element, such as a cord 2? may have one end held against onetine by the thumb while the operator tightly Wraps the cord 21 about thetines adjacent to the connecting element or disk H. The action of thistightly wound cord. is to press the tines inwardly so that these tineswill have clamping engagement with the V-shaped spinning element [4 ofthe outer or foremost top. As the tines l4 normally converge slightly,and since the arms 24 of the V-shaped spinning element 24 also convergeor taper forwardly, when the tines are brought into clamping engagementwith the spinning element 24, the forward or outer top is securely heldupon the tines, which in turn retains the other tops thereon. The handleIl may now be vertically arranged with the tops lowermost, and the cordpulled, which rotates or spins the carrier I3 and the tops thereon. Thepressure upon the sides of the tines l4 being released when the cord isunwound therefrom and these tines being resilient and further beingacted upon by centrifugal force, move to the open position in contactwith the outer walls of the slots l8, but do not contact with the wallsof the opening 23. The tops then drop from the carrier and fall upon thespinning surface and spin upon their spinning elements 24. The tops maydifi'er in appearance as by being painted different colors, if desired.While the spinning device is designed to spin a plurality of tops, yetit may be employed to spin a single top, if desired.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modification of the invention. In thisfigure, the straight handle H is dispensed with and a pistol-grip handle28 employed. The pivot element I2 is secured to the forward end of thispistol-grip handle and is arranged within a recess 29. The rotatablecarrier l3 and associated elements are mounted upon the pivot element I2and a portion of the carrier operates within the recess 29. An advantageof this construction is that by having the rear portion of the tines 14operating within the recess 29, the cord 21 is necessarily wound aboutthe tines adjacent to the connecting element or disk l6, which isdesirable, instead of near the rear ends of the tines. All other partsof the spinning device remain identical with the first form of thespinning device, heretofore described. The tops 22 are mounted upon thetines l4, and caused to spin as described in connection with the firstform of the invention.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A multiple spinning topdevice comprising, a plurality of tops, each top comprising a bodyportion having an opening and a hollow spinning element, the openingbeing arranged radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of thespinning element, the hollow spinning elements of the tops being adaptedto interfit, a handle, and a rotary carrier secured to the handle andincluding a part for insertion through the openings in the tops andserving to spin the tops.

2. A multiple spinning top device comprising, a. plurality of tops, eachtop comprising a body portion and a spinning element, the body portionhaving an opening, the opening being arranged radially outwardly of theaxis of rotation of the spinning element, a handle, and a rotary carriersecured to the handleand having a part for insertion through theopenings of the tops.

3. In a spinning top device, a top comprising a body portion having asubstantially central opening, said opening having its plane in theplane of rotation of the body portion, and a generally flat spinningelement having its axis of rotation disposed at substantially a rightangle to the plane of the opening and secured to the body portionadjacent to the opening to divide the same into passages.

4. In a spinning top device, a top comprising a body portion having asubstantially central opening, said opening having its plane in theplane of rotation of the body portion, and a hollow V-shaped spinningelement secured to the body portion adjacent to the opening, saidspinning element having its axis of rotation at substantially a rightangle to the plane of the opening.

5. In a spinning top device, a top comprising a relatively thin bodyportion having an opening, said opening having its plane in the plane ofrotation of the body portion, and a spinning element secured to the bodyportion and arranged upon one side of the body portion, the spinningelement exending downwardly beyond the body portion.

6. A multiple spinning top device, comprising a plurality of tops, eachtop having a pair of spaced openings near its center and a part arrangedbetween the openings, a rotary carrier comprising a pair of spaced tinesfor insertion through the pairs of openings in the tops, a handle towhich the carrier is secured, and means to exert pressure upon the tinesso that they are moved inwardly toward each other for engagement withsaid part of the outermost top and to rotate the carrier.

'7. A multiple spinning top device, comprising a plurality of tops, eachtop having a spinning element and a pair of passages disposed uponopposite sides of the spinning element, a rotary carrier comprising apair of spaced tines for insertion through the passages with thespinning elements arranged between the tines, and means to exertpressure upon the tines to move them toward each other and to rotate thesame.

8. A spinning top device, comprising a handle, a pivot element securedto the handle, a fork 'rotatably mounted upon the pivot element andincluding yieldable tines, a disk mounted upon the pivot elements andhaving openings to receive the tines, the openings being thicker thanthe tines so that the tines may have their forward ends moved togetherby pressure applied to the tines at points rearwardly of the disk, and atop having openings to receive the tines and a part arranged between theopenings to be disposed between the tines.

9. In a spinning top device, a handle having a recess, a pivot elementextending through the recess and secured to the handle, a fork rotatablymounted upon the pivot element and having tines with a portion of thetines rotating within the recess, and a disk carried by the pivotelement and having openings to receive the tines,

the openings being larger than the tines to per-.

mit of relative lateral movement between the tines and said disk.

10. A spinning top device, comprising a handle, a fork rotatable uponthe handle and comprising wide flat tines, a plurality of tops, each topcomprising a body portion carrying a central opening and a generallyflat spinning element arranged adjacent to the central opening to dividethe same into passages, the tines being inserted through the passages,and a flexible element to be wound about the tines to force theminwardly toward each other and to rotate the tines.

11. A multiple spinning top device comprising, a plurality of topsadapted to be arranged in superposed relation, each top having spacedopenings, a handle, a rotary carrier mounted' upon the handle andincluding tines for insertion through the openings of the several tops,one tine being shiftable laterally with relation to the handle forholding the tops upon the tines, and a flexible element to be wound uponportions of the tines to force the laterally shiftable tine inwardly andto also rotate the tines.

12. A multiple spinning top device comprising a plurality of tops to bearranged in superposed relation, each top having an opening, an elementto be passed through the openings of the superposed tops, a handle towhich the element is attached, a rotary element carried by the handleand shiftable laterally for holding the tops upon the first namedelement, and a flexible element to be wound about said elements andserving to force the rotary element laterally inwardly and to alsorotate the rotary element.

13. A multiple spinning top device, comprising a plurality of tops to bearranged in superposed relation, a handle, a rotary carrier mounted uponthe handle and including spaced tines to engage the tops, one tine beingshiftable laterally inwardly toward the other time for holding the topsupon the tines, anda flexible element to be wound upon portions of thetines to force the laterally shiftable tine inwardly toward the othertine and to also rotate the carrier.

14. A multiple spinning top device, comprising a plurality of tops to beassembled in superposed relation, a handle, a rotary ca'rrier secured tothe handle and including tines for retaining the tops in the assembledrelation and rotating them one tine being movable toward the other tine,and means to rotate the carrier and also serving to shift the movabletine toward the other tine so that the tines will hold the tops againstdropping from such tines, said tines permitting the tops to droptherefrom when said means releases said tine which is movable toward theother tine.

15. A multiple spinning top device comprising a plurality of tops to beassembled in superposed relation and having parts which telescope whenthe tops are assembled so that such tops are arranged in close relation,a handle, a rotary carrier secured to the handle and including tines forengaging the tops and rotating them one tine being movable toward theother tine, and flexible means wound about the tines to rotate thecarrier and shift the movable tine toward the other tine.

ERNEST G. GEHMAN.

